Paris, March 23: The latest findings from the United Nations World Water Development Report 2024, unveiled by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, shed light on the intensifying global water crisis and its role in aggravating conflicts across the globe.
The report calls for an immediate increase in international cooperation and the forging of transboundary agreements to avert potential conflicts.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director-General, stressed the critical link between the rising challenge of water scarcity and the increased likelihood of local or regional disputes.
“To maintain peace, urgent actions are essential not only to protect water resources but also to strengthen cooperation at both regional and global levels,” Azoulay remarked.
Highlighting the role of water in ensuring peace and prosperity, Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Chair of UN-Water, pointed out, “Water, when managed sustainably and equitably, can be a source of peace and prosperity. It’s crucial for agriculture, which is a significant socio-economic factor for billions worldwide.”
According to the report, an alarming 2.2 billion individuals lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.5 billion people are deprived of safe sanitation facilities.
These statistics highlight the steep hill to climb to meet the United Nations’ goal for universal access by 2030.
The report further warns that climate change could worsen droughts and water scarcity, with over half the global population already experiencing severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, and a quarter facing ‘extremely high’ levels of water stress, consuming over 80 per cent of their region’s annual renewable freshwater resources.
The disproportionate impact of water scarcity on girls and women is particularly troubling. In many rural areas, they shoulder the responsibility of water collection, dedicating several hours daily to this task.
This situation not only hampers their education and economic opportunities but also compromises their safety, leading to an increased dropout rate among girls and a surge in gender-based violence, as indicated by research in Somalia.
The report also highlights the urgent necessity for transboundary water agreements, noting that about 40 per cent of the global population lives in areas dependent on transboundary river and lake basins. Yet, only a fraction of these countries have established agreements for the equitable management of these shared resources.
This gap is starkly evident in Africa, where a majority of freshwater resources are transboundary, but interstate cooperation remains limited.
Nonetheless, there is evidence of progress through cooperation, such as the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin and the initiatives of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).
These examples showcase the potential for collaboration in managing shared water resources, fostering sustainable development, and averting conflicts.
The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024 issues a stark warning and a call to action to address the critical water challenges through enhanced global cooperation and effective resource management.
With the shadow of water stress looming larger by the day, the report underscores the urgent need for collective efforts to ensure the sustainable and equitable management of this vital resource for peace and prosperity.
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